Hotel Atlantic Kempinski Hamburg

We booked a "great" deal with Expedia and after a well earned weekend away were very much looking forward to our trip....

However, the disappointment started before even setting foot in the lobby. The bellboy ignored us as we struggled with our luggage outside the main entrance. Then at reception we checked in and were told to make our own way to our room with no one to help with the bags. On coming out of the lift we asked which direction the room was from a passing member of staff (yet again no offer to help with bags) who pointed us in the direction of a back staircase.

Suddenly the ceiling height dropped and the grand doors of the other hotel rooms ont he main corridor turned into small and ugly wooden doors which led us to the most horrific room we have ever stayed in (even as students in the cheapest hostels) Our room had a view over the kitchens. We were clearly in what used to be the servants quarters. The room had stained carpets, two rickety beds with yellowing sheets, a TV from the 70s, lopsided pictures on the walls, dusty surfaces, a ripped bath robe, opened toiletries and a rotting shower curtain. We immediately fled what was supposed to be a romantic hotel room.

After a heated discussion at reception, we were told that we had an "Expedia special rate" room (which incidentally cost a not so special 130 Euros a night)and we couldn't move as the hotel was fully booked. We then proceeded to drown our sorrows in a local bar. The following day we were moved to a "better" room, this time at least it was clean and modern but absolutely not 5 star (especially the dated bathroom)

Needless to say, WE WILL NEVER RETURN. Enjoy the pictures (the reality was far worse).

In my opinion this hotel represents excellent value for money for a quality hotel. All of the staff, (reception, consierge, room service, etc) are incredibly helpful and polite and seem to go out of their way to make sure the customer is happy. Maybe I'm just not used to this level of service coming from England!

Stayed there from 8th to 10th of April 2006. Booked via lhw as being amember. Recieved room upgrade. Room was not renovated at all, pretty shabby.

Hotel staff is ok.

Sauna, Pool ok. Massages all overpriced, unprofessional staff there, one vene wore damaged clothes, took them 5 min. to reopen the safe at the SPA because its so old...

Food can be very good, asked about vegetarian food, not much on the menue, told them to do something for about 40.- Euro. That was the best part of my stay there.

My boyfriend and I stayed here for a weekend in early December and found everything about the hotel to be comfortable and inviting. The rooms were very well appointed. We jokingly rate all hotels we've stayed at since as compared to this Kempinski. We were throughly impressed and would gladly stay here again in future.

We stayed for a weekend in the "Hans Albert Suite" which has a superb view over the Aussenalster and Hamburg itself. The Hotel was decorated in the style of the late 19th century and some parts seemed to be original. The hotel is located in the vicinity of the town centre and it takes only few minutes to the train station and airport.

Facilities

The Atlantic has swimming pool and sauna, bars and a restaurant.

Room

The suite was very spacious and comfortable and it was very comfortable. Our rooms had an old fashioned decoration, but everything was of high quality such as a Revox hifi equipment, furniture. The bathroom was very nice and it contained Bulgari parfums, shower gel etc.

Room service

Due delayed flights for one of us we decided to have diner in our room and the room service was just awesome. Dinner was served with shortly after the order and the waiters brought in an additional table and prepared a very nice dinner experience for us.

Breakfast

The breakfast in the Atlantic deserves some praise. It has an extraordinary variety and all products I tasted were truly enjoyable.

Conclusions

The hotel was a lovely place and gave us a true ***** experience. I am sure we will come again.

The kempinski was fine, staff excellent, breakfast way above average. i probably wouldn't go again for two reasons. first, i would prefer to be somewhere either right in the centre (four seasons) - with cafes right next door and so on - or somewhere in a more beautful setting. second, i found the whole place slightly stuffy, it needs a bit of modernising and it all felt a little bit oppressive. room service took 45 minutes and this was at 1 in the morning when there couldn't have been too many other people ordering food and i was starving and tired.

(Photos only)

Overall, this hotel is beautiful! The staff was very professional and courteous. However, our room badly needed to be refurbished. The carpet was stained, the wallpaper was peeling, and the furniture looked as though it had been purchased at various fleamarkets. Upon check-out, I filled out a questionnaire and left it with the front desk. Much to my surprise, I received a personal letter from the hotel manager several weeks later apologizing for my experience with the room. In addition, he informed me to contact him on a return visit for upgrades.

This is truly a gorgeous hotel! I hope that the room that we stayed in has since been updated.

We stayed at the Atlantic in October 2004 for a 3 night break. The hotel is very posh but the standard rooms do need a refurbishment. The staff where very polite. We found it very expensive to eat there and the bar was also expensive. The location of the hotel was ok a 15 minute walk to the town centre.

I stayed at the Hotel Atlantic for a 6 month period during the summer of 2002. I have stayed at similar hotels around the world for similar lengths of time and nothing compares to the service, location and amenities of the Atlantic.

The location on the aussenalster is fantastic, walking distance to many of the shopping areas, the train station and the sights of downtown Hamburg. The dining is outstanding, from the breakfast buffet to the excellent dinner options. The staff goes above and beyond to please.

When the Rolling Stones were in town, staying at the Atlantic, the staff went out of their way to make sure I got two great tickets to the concert. When my wife was having travel challenges in the states at 2 in the morning local time, they brought in two extra phones so that I could coordinate her travel with the airline, the hotel in Davos, while she was on the line. They went out of their way to make sure I was entertained on the weekends, introducing me to a private golf club south of the city for my golfing pleasure.

Language was never an issue, even though my German was broken, at best.

I embarrassed myself enough times trying to speak some German that they seemed to enjoy the interaction. The doormen in particular are very friendly and enjoy conversation when they are not too busy.

The rooms are outstanding, make sure you try to get a room with a view of the Alster, the higher the better. Just make sure the adjoining room door is locked - I had one hilarious incident where a young boy barged into my room late one night while I was sleeping.

One downside is the fitness center. I've found this is the price you pay for staying older hotels. The fitness centers are usually stuffed into an old closet. If having a well-equipped fitness center is a number one priority, the Atlantic may not be for you.

Herr Stig Arnberg, guest relations manager was especially helpful and friendly, as was Ms. Daniela Wichelhausen, Asst to the General Manager.